TITUSVILLE, Fla. – A Titusville man is facing aggravated battery on a law enforcement officer charges after police say he rammed two patrol cars during a pursuit.
The chase started just before 2 a.m. Friday. A Brevard County Sheriff's Office helicopter, sheriff's deputies and Titusville police officers were chasing 24-year-old Thomas Schaffer because they say he stole a Chevrolet truck.
During the pursuit, Schaffer sped right through an unrelated hit-and-run crash investigation and narrowly missed hitting officers. Stop sticks were deployed there and the helicopter was able to catch up to him.
The helicopter's camera caught the truck weaving through a neighborhood before driving backwards. The driver then stopped, put the truck in drive and headed directly towards two patrol vehicles.
"We advise he just hit a couple of patrol vehicles. He's heading back north now," an officer is heard over the police scanner.
No law enforcement officers were hurt.
Schaffer then started to pick up speed and cut through front yards. One of his tires, which was already blown from the stop stick, fell off completely, according to police.
But that didn't stop the Titusville man.
With sparks shooting from the rim hitting the pavement, he cut down a dirt road and then through a school yard.
The chopper then spotted the truck going 50 miles per hour on State Road 50 with only three working tires.
He then cut it into another neighborhood and found his way onto a bike trail where a few police cruisers got stuck in the mud.
Eventually, Schaffer stopped the car and officers were able to move in and arrest him. But he didn't go down easy and a Taser was used, police said.
Schaffer is facing a slew of charges including fleeing and eluding, aggravated battery on a law enforcement officer and DUI.
He's being held at the Brevard County Jail on a $92,000 bond.